Clinical indicators for pulmonary arterial hypertension in thalassemia

To explore clinical indicators for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in thalassemia (Thal). A study was conducted in thalassemia patients at Chiang Rai Hospital, Chiang Rai, Thailand. Pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) was determined by doppler echocardiography and PAH was defined as PASP > 35 mmHg. Patient characteristics were extracted from medical records. Characteristics of patients with and without PAH were compared. Risk indicators were explored with logistic regression analysis. Two hundred twenty four patients were included, 144 E/beta-Thal, 37 homozygous beta-Thal and 43 Hb H disease. There were 65 patients (29.0%) with PAH, 53 (81.5%) with E/beta-Thal, 8 (12.3%) with homozygous beta-Thal and 4 (6.2%) with Hb H disease. In a multivariable analysis, features significantly associated with PAH were E/beta-Thal (OR = 1.98, 95% CI; 1.29-3.01) and post splenectomy status (OR = 2.36, 95% CI; 1.17-4.73). Significant indicators for PAH in thalassemia were E/beta-Thal and post splenectomy status.